Case Report

Microscopic Polyangiitis Presenting with Liver Dysfunction Preceding Rapidly Progressive Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis

Authors: Kohzo Takebayashi, MD, Yoshimasa Aso, MD, Hiroshi Kitamura, MD, Yusei Sakurai, MD, Sadao Wakabayashi, MD, Toshihiko Inukai, MD

Abstract

The authors describe a 52-year-old woman diagnosed with microscopic polyangiitis. She presented with abnormal liver function tests accompanied by fever, headache, and fatigue. Two months later, rapidly progressive necrotizing glomerulonephritis developed together with seropositivity for perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. Although liver dysfunction from microscopic polyangiitis is very rare, especially at presentation, this diagnostic possibility should be kept in mind to permit prompt consideration of steroid therapy.


Key Points


* Although microscopic polyangiitis is frequently complicated with rapidly progressive necrotizing glomerulonephritis, coexistence with liver dysfunction is very rare, especially as an initial symptom.


* We encountered a patient with microscopic polyangiitis who developed liver dysfunction before renal impairment.

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